West Ham have been one of the most active teams in the Premier League on the transfer market, signing a new out-and-out No. 9 in Niclas Fullkrug, as well as winger Crysencio Summerville, center back Max Kilman, right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and defensive midfielder Guido Rodriguez.
The Hammers may not be done there either, because they are also in pursuit of PSG attacker Carlos Soler as another addition to the front line. But before acquiring Soler, West Ham could sacrifice one of their current attacking midfielders to make space for the former Spanish international.
According to a report from The Athletic, West Ham could be open to selling attacking midfielder James Ward-Prowse before the summer 2024 transfer window closes in a week, even though they just signed him last summer.
Ward-Prowse left Southampton after their relegation in the 2022/23 season, and he was excellent to start things off at West Ham, performing like a Player of the Season candidate in the opening months.
But as West Ham faded, so did Ward-Prowse. The Hammers fell far out of European contention, and Ward-Prowse became part of a mediocre and lethargic David Moyes-led side.
With a new manager, Julen Lopetegui, and more attacking talent, perhaps Ward-Prowse can refind the form that made him one of the Premier League’s best playmakers at Southampton and at the beginning of the season for West Ham.
Even at the end of the campaign, Ward-Prowse’s numbers for the Hammers looked good with 7 goals, 7 assists, and 1.7 key passes per game after registering at least 12 goal contributions in the previous three seasons with the Saints.
West Ham could keep Ward-Prowse, still in the prime of his career at 29, and hope he hits 10+ goal contributions next season. Or they could sell him, sign Soler for about the same money at 20 million euros, and utilize the younger and more versatile former Valencia man as the main playmaker instead.
It’s a tough call, but Ward-Prowse’s future might have to depend on what happens with Soler, because if West Ham get a good offer for the English playmaker, they may not feel the need to accommodate both players with Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus also capable of playing a free ’10’ role, too.
